Taking Control of the Words We Use
Living A Life of Focus – Part 10
When you love something, you give attention to it. As a result, without knowing it we give attention to the wrong words or using words in a manner that’s detrimental. I believe that our world is shaped by our words. The life we live today is a result of the words we spoke yesterday. It’s imperative to have a love affair with our words because our world depends on it.
The Thought or Concept:
I have four answers to how we can use words to change our world to our advantage.
Use a new set of words as often as you can.
Are you really going to let your life be shaped by the words that have produced the life you currently have? Then keep using the same words you’ve been using. What about your children? Are you setting them up for a life like yours or a better one? When we think of our daughter’s future, we try to help shape ideas for what she should be doing not by words that have defined our lives but by a new set. Here’s an example affirmation (confession) we make: our daughter, Tamia, will never have to work for someone else or call another person her boss. We have more in store for her and it will take us saying a new set of words to change her world.
Live in your words.
Normal people give no attention to their words. They take them-speak them-as is. What that means for those of us who don’t give attention to what our words produce is that by default it produces “common” results. Our words go something like this…
I’m not going to pass the test. So the result is I don’t pass tests.
I’m not good enough. So the result is that I’m not good enough on the job, in a relationship, or to be on the team.
I’m not strong enough. As a result, I break down at the small obstacles that get in my way.
The point I am making is this, your words won’t change until you want your results in life to change. I know this sounds strange. It’s hard to imagine that everything is created by words. It’s not a normal concept that’s taught. In fact, it’s a God-thing and it’s been working since the beginning of both Heaven and Earth. God didn’t create using material first, He started with words and so do you.
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, and from the produce of his lips [words] he shall be filled. – bible.com/bible/114/PRO.18.20.NKJV
What have your words produced and what will they produce?
Store something different in your mind.
Whatever’s stored in your mind is the only thing that can come from your lips.
“Your success is conceived in your mind, but your words give it life.” – Julio Melara (It Only Takes Everything You’ve Got)
You can store what everyone else is storing… news, media, gossip, rumors, negative doctors reports, or you can choose to store something different. What you’ve been storing is what has been coming from your mouth which has developed your life.
Whatever’s stored in your heart [things you’ve committed to memory] will determine what we say.
…For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. – bible.com/116/mat.12.34.NLT
Control your words.
“Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.” – bible.com/116/pro.13.3.nlt
Controlling my words impacts the length of my life. Now that’s what happens when you’re uncommon, you get control of your words, but imagine what happens normally. Normal behavior is having no control or lacking control of your words which produce the results we normally see. If you desire to be the type of person that you don’t normally see, then take the action of controlling your words. You need a plan to execute and it goes something like this.
Give focused thought to new desired results and the words from your mouth will follow.
- Focused thought: It takes an uncommon person to give focused thoughts. This person concentrates. This person plans to have thoughts that are unlike others. What are your thinking about?
- Zero in on thoughts that produce desired results.
- Have tunnel vision when it comes to thoughts and ideas that others try to put in your head.
- Block out the noise that others bring your way.
- New desired results: An uncommon person thinks about new or different desired results. He/she is never satisfied with the results she/he is currently receiving.
- Only you know what you want or desire, so use this to direct your thinking. Think on these things.
- Never settle for where you are today. There’s no reason to be okay with where you are today unless this is exactly where you want to be and it’s your thoughts and words that got you there.
- Do better. It starts with your thinking. In order to do better, you must learn to think better and then you’re able to speak better.
Let my words please the One who is unlike the rest.
When I was Sunday-school-age, every Sunday we’d have Sunday school class with my grandmother. She was responsible for many of the scripture verses that we committed to memory. Each week, we had to recite a new Bible verse. Here’s the strange thing, my brother was the only person in the class who could get away with reciting the same verse every Sunday. That might just be why he only knows one Bible verse. Don’t tell him I said that. At any rate, here’s one of those verses I placed in my memory and still recite today.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” – bible.com/116/psa.19.14.nlt
When was the last time you ran what you say by someone else or through a filter? That’s what this verse is implying. Take on an uncommon habit of filtering your words so that you’re not using your words to create a mess of your life, a normal life. Make sure you’re not using your words to create a world you never intended on living in.
Today is Friday!
If all it takes to change your world is to change your words, why do so many people not take advantage of it? They have no idea. This is an uncommon practice. In other words, it’s not normal. Next week, we will interrupt this series for a special Thanksgiving message I’m sure you’ll enjoy. In two weeks we will continue with this focus statement and a few practices you can take to create a world you desire by using your words. Until then, remember to share this message with others and thanks for visiting kerryaclark.com.
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